Ares glanced briefly at the arm that Cynthia was holding before looking at me.

‘Hmm? Why are you looking at me?’

Cynthia also tried to put her arm around Ixion’s arm with her remaining arm.

“What the hell? Get off me?”

Ixion flinched and tried to push her away, but Cynthia poked his cheek.

“My little brother is very shy! So cute!”

Ixion was taken aback when he was called ‘little brother.’

Then he looked at Cynthia with a face that showed he didn’t understand.

“Are you… not very smart?”

Cynthia laughed out loud.

“Don’t say that~ I’m your older sister! You naughty boy!”

While Cynthia was tickling Ixion’s cheek, Ares came up to me.

“Where are you going, little sister?”

“Just to my room.”

“Shall we go together? Let’s play and draw pictures.”

Ixion immediately interrupted.

“Get lost. Fluffy and I are going to play horseback riding.”

“That kind of barbaric play doesn’t suit my sister.”

“Huh? She loved it when I gave her a ride last time.”

Ares and Ixion each grabbed one of my arms and growled.

‘Ugh, I’m going to be torn in half like this!’

“Oh my!”

A loud voice cut through the noise.

When I looked up, Cynthia was looking down at me with her hand covering her mouth.

“Ruru, what’s wrong with your clothes? They’re dirty.”

I was sitting on the ground with Dana, and my pants and top were covered in dirt from playing.

“It’s really bad. But it’s okay. From now on, I’ll take good care of our baby.”

Cynthia patted the dirt off my pants and then picked me up in a hug.

“Well, let me change your clothes for you.”

As Cynthia walked away with me in her arms, she suddenly turned around.

“Do you want to come with me, older brother, and Ixion?” 

“Why should I go with–.”

Ixion fell silent as he glanced at me, who had ended up in Cynthia’s arms.

Ares smiled mischievously and said, 

“Of course, I should go wherever my little sister goes.”

“Oh my…” 

Cynthia blushed.

While she led the two Phaeraton young masters confidently, I remained nestled quietly.

‘Ugh, it’s bothersome. But I have a quest to complete.’

“By the way, isn’t it Father’s birthday soon?”

I tilted my head at Cynthia’s words.

“Is it your father’s birthday soon, Cynthia? But should you be staying at the Duke’s residence?”

I didn’t know what their relationship was like after Lady Aphelia’s divorce, but since Cynthia was his biological daughter, maybe she should go there?

If she was preparing for her father’s birthday, it didn’t seem like they had a bad relationship.

“Huh? What are you talking about? I mean the Duke, not my father.”

Wait a minute.

“Father’s birthday is coming up?!”

“Oh my, Ruru, you didn’t know? It’s your father’s birthday!”

Cynthia, who had been looking at me with surprise, burst into laughter.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re still young, so of course you wouldn’t know. Ah, what a wonderful party it will be!”

“His Excellency doesn’t like noisy celebrations. That’s why he doesn’t hold birthday parties and prefers it to pass quietly.”

Cynthia pouted at Ares’ words.

“Ugh, it’s not like that. It’s his birthday after all. Did he really want it to pass quietly?”

She continued with a self-assured tone.

“Since the Duchess isn’t here, he probably wanted to hold social gatherings. Things should change from now on. We should have interactions with other noble families too.”

“Even without the Duchess, we can still have social gatherings.”

“Yeah, we don’t really need social gatherings. Besides, His Excellency has been away at war, so there was no need to open the doors of the Duke’s residence.”

“Anyway, His Excellency would have despised such parties.”

I lowered my head.

‘So everyone else knew it was our father’s birthday… except me.’

Only I didn’t.

Only me.

“Your birthday is on October 11th.”

“It’s already passed.”

“Yeah, it passed this year. But it will come again next year.”

“Yeah!”

“On your birthday, we will have a party grander than the royalty.”

He said that, but I didn’t even ask about my father’s birthday.

I should have asked at least once.

It was the first time I’d ever had a dad, so it’s no excuse that I didn’t think of it.

In the meantime, we arrived at my room.

“Come on, baby. I’ll help you change! Ares and Ixion, you sit there! Ruru, help and come out.”

“But this isn’t your room?”

“Oh, come on, don’t be mean to your sister.”

Cynthia giggled and shook her head.

“They say boys at your age express their interest like that. Oh well.”

Cynthia put me down in the dressing room and closed the door.

“Wow, why is the dressing room so spacious? And it’s decorated so elegantly.”

She looked around and opened and closed glass doors and drawers, touching my clothes, hats, and accessories.

“Does a child really need such nice clothes? You’ll outgrow them in a season. What a waste.”

Cynthia pulled out one of them.

“Oh, look at this dirty one. It’s so messy.”

“It’s natural for a child to get dirty and play. They say being close to dirt is how they grow up healthy.”

“Who says that? That’s why you need a duchess after all. Only then will a child grow up neat and tidy.”

No matter how much I thought about it, it sounded like a dismissive comment about not having a mom.

Just as I was about to speak up, Cynthia added, “Just like His Excellency’s birthday.”

I remained silent.

“But you really didn’t know your father’s birthday is coming up?”

“……”

“You’re something else. Enjoying so many privileges just because you’re his daughter, yet you can’t even take care of such basic things. If I were your parent…”

As Cynthia muttered to herself, she looked at me and exclaimed, “Oh my.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay! You’re still a baby. It’s natural that it’s difficult to take care of an adult’s birthday!”

Cynthia approached me with a gentle smile and tapped my head.

“Now that he’s going to be my dad, I’ll take good care of him from now on! Don’t worry!”

As she passed by me and grabbed the doorknob, she quickly turned around.

“Oh, come out wearing that. You can handle it on your own, right? It’s the homework this older sister gives to her baby! It’s all part of the training!”

Cynthia opened the door and shouted towards Ixion and Ares.

“You were waiting for older sister, weren’t you?! Oh my God, older brother! What was that?”

Bang.

The door to the dressing room closed.

[It’s time.]

[Let’s get the cider.]

‘Just a naive and clueless child, all I have to do is educate her.’

[Education. Education is good. Let’s educate her quickly.]

I sighed and sat down on the floor.

Cynthia’s words were harsh, but it was a shock to me that I didn’t even know my father’s birthday.

I changed my clothes one by one and came out.

“My little sister looks pretty no matter what she wears.”

“Hmph, who says something like a cotton ball is pretty.”

“Come here. I’ll comb your hair.”

“Can’t you even tie a ribbon by yourself? Come here.”

“Oh, by the way!”

Cynthia clapped her hands.

“What did everyone prepare as a birthday present for His Excellency?”

“Why would we prepare something like that?”

“Of course we should prepare! Isn’t it proper etiquette? Right, Ruru? Don’t you think so too?”

“Hey.”

Ixion’s voice was low.

His red eyes glowed with an eerie light that couldn’t possibly belong to a boy.

Just one word.

With that one word, Cynthia’s face turned pale.

“Uh, ah…”

A suppressed groan escaped from her trembling lips.

At that moment, Ixion’s gaze turned towards me.

He realized it and quickly regained his composure.

Cynthia was trembling, still unable to react.

“Well, it would be better for you to go rest.”

Ares suggested, and only then did she finally stand up, stuttering, “Yes, yes? Yes, yes…” and left without looking back.

“This isn’t my fault.”

Ixion said to me.

“I didn’t say anything.”

I plopped down on the sofa.

“Ixion doesn’t like Cynthia?”

With Ixion’s personality, it seems like he would appreciate someone approaching him without any awkwardness.

“It’s weird that she’s so scared of me when I’ve been hiding so well. Didn’t you see her trembling just because I glared at her a little bit?”

He’s been hiding his demeanor quite well.

“Anyway, I can’t stand those distant types.”

“Aren’t you too focused on that girl? I’m feeling a bit sad.”

Ares gently stroked my hair and spoke.

“Do you like me, your brother, or that girl more?”

“O-of course it’s Ares!”

Ares smiled like the spring sun.

“But didn’t both of you prepare a gift for Dad? When is Dad’s birthday?”

“Well, in about ten days? I’m not sure exactly. It’s around the end of this month.”

“What about the gift?”

“Why would we prepare something like that?”

“Well… “

“If he wants something, he can buy it with his own money.”

“Buying something with his own money is not the same as a gift!”

“What’s the difference?”

“Well, the gifter puts their heart into the gift.”

“Even if there’s a heartfelt intention behind a gift, it won’t feed you.”

Ares didn’t say it in the same way as Ixion, but he seemed to agree to some extent.

Hmph.

“Then I guess I don’t need to give gifts for Ixion and Ares’ birthdays.”

“What?”

“Why?!”

“I thought you said there’s no need for gifts.”

Upon hearing those words, Ixion and Ares had expressions as though they had lost a country.

* * *

After Ixion and Ares left, I unfolded the report first.

I promised to approve it by tonight.

“Ung…”

I repeated the cycle of wrinkling my face and then smoothing it out.

“I still don’t understand a thing!”

Nono, I can do this!

Let’s try it!

“Production of black gold… black gold, black cattle, black crane….”

I drew a black bird in the empty space and was satisfied.

“Black crane!”

Should I draw a black cow too? Hmm, no need!

As I moved the pen diligently, Anna passed by and said, “You’re working hard, miss. You’re admirable,” and smiled.

Yeah, yeah, I’m admirable!

…Am I really admirable?

‘I didn’t even know it was Dad’s birthday.’

I didn’t even think to ask.

But still, it’s coming soon. Everyone should have told me since they all know!

Why didn’t anyone tell me!

“I hate Anna!”

Crash!

Anna dropped the vase she was holding and turned pale.

“Miss, please don’t get up!”

“We need to clean up quickly…!”

“I hate Nancy, Laura, and Tilda too! I hate everyone!”

Thud, thump, flop!

The three of them dropped what they were holding and collapsed.

“D-do you really hate me, miss?”

“I hate you!”

“Miss…”

“Why didn’t you tell me about Dad’s birthday?”

The maids who were sobbing stopped moving at my words.

“I-is it His Excellency’s birthday?”

I wasn’t the one who answered Nancy’s panicked question.

“No, it’s not his birthday. It’s in six days.”

“Your Excellency…!”

When I turned my head, Dad was looking down at me from behind the sofa.

“Dad…” 

“I came because you seemed upset.”

Dad lifted me up and hugged me.

“You’ve become ugly like a wet dog.”

“I didn’t know it was your birthday, Dad.”

“It’s natural not to know. I didn’t tell you.”

“I didn’t even prepare a gift.”

“You don’t have to give me one.”

“But…”

“Ruru.”

Dad looked into my eyes.

“Why do you feel guilty?”

“…Doesn’t it make you sad that I didn’t even know it was your birthday?”

“It’s touching, actually. That you look so sad about not knowing.”

Dad smiled and patted my head.

“You don’t have to take care of me. Just accept what I give you. That’s more than enough.”

I leaned my cheek against Dad’s chest.

Hearing the sound of his heart beating, all the worries I had until now felt foolish.

“I want to wish you a happy birthday, Dad. And I want to give you a gift.”

Dad looked down at me.

“Well, it’s not even a week away, so if I start preparing now, the gift might not be that great.”

“If it’s from you, anything is fine.”

“I don’t want to give you just anything.”

Dad chuckled at my words.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Okay!”

I quickly felt better and giggled.

After feeding me a lot of pudding, Dad left.

Then the maids fell in front of me.

“We are really sorry that we didn’t even know it was His Excellency’s birthday.”

“When Miss is buried, I will be buried with you.”

“I will write His Excellency’s profile immediately and collect and record everything related to His Excellency from now on to apologize.”

“Shall I take out my heart now as an apology?”

I don’t know what to say.

Should I call it a devoted husband, a stalker, and a heart donor-like apology?

I laughed a little, remembering the time I gave my sisters my drawings.

“No, I was just angry at you earlier for no reason, sisters.”

After my rationality as a reincarnated person returned, I felt a little embarrassed and sorry.

“It’s surprising that sisters didn’t know it was Dad’s birthday.”

Well, come to think of it, it’s strange for an employee to always remember the birthday of the company’s CEO.

However, the situation is a little different.

Unless it were an annual event like in other noble families, but Dad has been away from the ducal mansion for the past four years, and even before that, it seemed to have passed quietly.

Above all, these four people were not maids of the ducal mansion, but of the ducal villa.

They became their personal maids and came to the ducal mansion.

“Dad said he was rarely in the residence. You wouldn’t have known.”

“I wonder why our young lady is so understanding.”

“Still, we will be buried with you, Miss.”

“Then I will also focus on recording everything about you, Miss.”

“My heart always belongs to you, Miss.”

Well, that’s not necessary.

* * *

“I heard from Cynthia. You haven’t held a birthday party yet, Your Excellency.”

Lady Aphelia asked Dad as she set down her tea.

“Are you not preparing a party this time either?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh my, it’s your first birthday since returning from the battlefield.”

Yeah.

If I had known earlier, I would have prepared a party.

“Although time is tight, can I take care of it?”

Huh?

Is this lady going to host a birthday party for my dad?

That’s totally—. 

‘Isn’t that something a duchess would do?!’